Manchester United reportedly bid £70m for Leicester City’s Harry Maguire

Manchester United are apparently in pole position ahead of Manchester City to sign Leicester City’s Harry Maguire, following an increased bid of £70m.

Leicester City have vowed to retain their stars this pre-season, they include: James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Wilfred Ndidi and Kasper Schmeichel. Though the crucial player attracting the most attention from big clubs and the sports media is Harry Maguire.

Manchester City and Manchester United are battling it out for the England man, with City allegedly ‘ahead’ in the race – up until now, that is.

According to Sky Sports, their transfer centre reporters and pundits, it’s:

"ADVANTAGE UNITED IN MAGUIRE RACEManchester United have moved ahead of rivals Manchester City in the pursuit of Harry Maguire after increasing their bid to £70m for the Leicester defender, according to Sky sources.Talks between both Manchester clubs and Leicester have been ongoing for several weeks but, as yet, a deal is still thought to be some way from being agreed.Maguire is understood to be happy at Leicester and won’t attempt to force a transfer, but is open to the idea of a move to one of the Premier League’s leading six sides.Leicester’s position has always been that they have no desire or need to sell and would only consider a bid in excess of the £75m world-record fee paid by Liverpool for Virgil van Dijk."

Is Maguire on the same level as Van Dijk? Not quite, to be frank. Whereas both are world-class, the Liverpool defender is currently the best global centre-back, putting him on a slightly higher, yet not unattainable, echelon. While Maguire would be an excellent acquisition for the Red Devils – as well as being much-needed.

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Will Leicester City accept?

This is Foxes of Leicester’s notion: if, and that is a questionable if, the King Power hierarchy have set an actual costing of £75 million on the Maguire’s head, then they will arguably – knowing them as much as one observer can – see the offer as derisive. Only because it is so close to the estimate it’s almost laughable for the stakes we are discussing.

In which case Leicester may ask United to increase by £5m or just flat-out reject their advances, keeping their Sheffield-born centre-half.

Believe this writer, the Foxes do not want to sell possibly their most prized and highly valued asset; unless a fair and accurate price is met. In all honesty if they have to sell, pitting two giants of the game against one another is the way to expertly secure your valuation.